Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 257. — Report of Col. Alfred A. Russell, Fourth Alabama Cavalry, of operations October 26, 1864-January 17, 1865.

No. 257.

Report of Col. Alfred A. Russell, Fourth Alabama Cavalry,

of operations October 26, 1864-January 17, 1865.

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ALABAMA REGIMENT CAVALRY,        

January 17, 1865

MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following report of services rendered since the 26th day of October, 1864:

In obedience to orders from army headquarters, 1 crossed the Tennessee River with my regiment on the 29th day of October, 1864, at Sublett's Ferry, two miles south of Bellefonte, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. During one month's service in Madison and Jackson Counties the railroad was cut at different places on an average of twice every week, destroying half a mile each time.

After the evacuation of Decatur my command pursued the retreating enemy from Huntsville to within fourteen miles of Stevenson (distance, forty-five miles), capturing about 450 negroes and 250 wagons, 1 train of cars and engine, which was taken possession of by Lieutenant-Colonel Windes, of General Roddey's command, and causing the enemy to destroy another train, the engine falling into our hands; also a large lot of iron, medical, commissary, quartermaster's, and ordnance stores were captured at Huntsville; all of which property was restored to the owners or turned over to Brigadier-General Roddey. My command, during the period, killed 48 of the enemy and captured 52 horses, in addition to the above specified.

The enemy did not occupy the Memphis and Charleston Railroad for a period of about two weeks, and that road might have been destroyed by the troops Brigadier-General Roddey had upon it to within twelve miles of Stevenson. In compliance with orders from Major-General Forrest, I would have brought to the army not less than 1,500 men, who are now within the lines and their services lost to the country, but for the contrary influence of some of the staff officers of Brigadier-General Roddey and S. D. Cabaniss, inspector of conscription. My loss, 1 man killed and 2 wounded.

Respectfully submitted.

A. A. RUSSELL,        

Colonel, Commanding Regiment.

        Major MASON,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of Tennessee.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 775-6

Lieutenant-Colonel William W. Mackall to Brigadier-General Leroy P. Walker, October 22, 1861

HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,

Bowling Green, Ky., October, 22, 1861.

Brig. Gen. L. P. WALKER, Huntsville, Ala.:

GENERAL: By General Johnston I am instructed to inform you that the enemy are advancing on General Zollicoffer. Two regiments were within 12 and 15 miles of his position at London, Ky., yesterday. From other sources he is led to believe that this advance is in force, and for the purpose of dividing us from the east by an attack through Cumberland Gap.

Nothing more need be presented to show you the necessity of the immediate employment of every man for the defense of the line, and to explain to you the propriety of sending your command to Knoxville instead of drawing it to this place, as was the wish and intention of the general.

He now directs you to send forward your command, now armed and organized, to Knoxville, as fast as possible, and have the detachments reported to General Zollicoffer as fast as they arrive at that point.

You will remain in charge of the organization of the remainder of your forces and superintendence of their movements or proceed with the advance of your command, as the interests of the force prepared and unprepared may require.

The general has seen your requisition for clothing, made on Quartermaster Stevenson. He regrets he could not have it filled. Only half the number of blankets called for by you are in store, subject to his order, for the whole of the command. A large stock on which his quartermaster counted has been diverted by the Government. He now, having shown you his deficiency in this article (and in all others the deficiency is great), begs you to limit your call to the most absolute wants of your men. He has himself, when similarly situated, found the advantage of requiring the captains when the men asked for clothing to examine into their condition, and compare that condition with the state of clothing in the company, and supply those most in want.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. W. MACKALL,        

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 4 (Serial No. 4), p. 470-1

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 229.—Report of Col. William J. Palmer, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of operations December 20, 1864-January 6, 1865.

No. 229.

Report of Col. William J. Palmer, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry,

of operations December 20, 1864-January 6, 1865.

HDQRS. FIFTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA (ANDERSON) CAVALRY,        

Huntsville, January 10, 1865.

MAJOR: I have the honor to report, as directed by Major-General Steedman, the operations of my command since the 20th ultimo:

On the evening of December 19 I received orders to march with my regiment from Wauhatchie, near Chattanooga, where I was encamped, to Bridgeport, where transports would probably meet me to take my command to Decatur. I reached Bridgeport at 4 p.m. on the 20th, but found no transports, and after telegraphing the facts to General Steedman, at Murfreesborough, was directed by telegraph on the evening of the 22d to march immediately to Huntsville. I accordingly started at 6 p.m. the same day, but was obliged to go into camp six miles from Bridgeport, on the bank of Widow's Creek, in consequence of that stream being past fording and of the bridges having been swept away. I marched at daylight the next morning, and by taking circuitous route around the source of Widow's Creek, succeeded in reaching Stevenson with my wagons early in the afternoon. Here I met Major-General Steedman, who had just arrived by rail from Murfreesborough, and received from him verbal instructions to leave my wagons at Caperton's Ferry, to be shipped by transports to Decatur, and to march as rapidly as possible with my regiment to the same place. This march occupied four days and a half, the rise of water in Crow Creek and Paint Rock River making it necessary to go around by the head of Coon Creek and of Hurricane Fork of Paint Rock River, crossing the spur of the Cumberland Mountain which divides these streams at their source. On this route I had no difficulty in fording the water courses, and found sufficient forage for my command. I reached the north bank of the Tennessee River, opposite Decatur, at 1 p.m. of December 28, and by dark had finished crossing, the infantry and artillery of the expedition, with Lieutenant-Colonel Prosser's command of cavalry, having nearly finished crossing when I arrived at the river-bank. I at once received orders from Major-General Steedman to take command of Lieutenant-Colonel Prosser's cavalry (detachments of the Second Tennessee and Tenth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Indiana, numbering in all about 300 effective men), in connection with my own regiment, and to advance on the Courtland road. After feeding the horses I started at 8 p.m., and on reaching a hill two miles from Decatur saw the camp fires of the enemy on an elevation about two miles beyond. Halting the command I took a battalion of 130 men of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and advanced to reconnoitre the enemy's strength and position. On nearing the lights their pickets fired, when I ordered my advance guard of thirty men to charge, which they did so boldly that the enemy, who proved to be Colonel Windes' regiment, of Roddey's command, had not time to form, but fled in disorder down the road, followed closely by my advance guard for one mile, when the enemy attempted to make a stand to cover his artillery. Another vigorous charge by our advance, however, drove him from his guns (two 6-pounders), which fell into our hands, with all the horses standing hitched to them in the road. We then went into camp (at 10 p.m.) to rest the men and animals for the next day's work. Thus in less than four hours after landing from the boats at Decatur we had advanced in the night six miles in a country and against an enemy of which we were almost entirely ignorant, and had taken possession of the camp and artillery of his rear guard.

Early the next morning [29th] I sent Lieutenant-Colonel Prosser with his command on the main Courtland road, while I advanced with the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry by the Brown's Ferry and Courtland road, both for the purpose of meeting the flank movement of any force that might come up from Bainbridge, where Hood's army had but just crossed the Tennessee River, and also to enable me to get in the rear of Roddey's force, if practicable, while he was being attacked by Colonel Prosser in front. Colonel Prosser first encountered the enemy at Hillsborough, five miles from our camp, and after a running skirmish of five miles more met General Roddey's main force drawn up in two lines at Pond Spring; without hesitation he charged it in the most gallant manner, broke both lines of the enemy, routing him so completely that he hardly attempted to make another stand, but fled ingloriously through Courtland and for eight miles beyond to Town Creek, on the banks of which General Roddey succeeded in reforming such portion of his command as had not taken advantage of their two successive defeats to go home and spend Christmas with their families. Colonel Prosser's attack was so vigorous that my force on the Brown's Ferry road, having several miles the longer distance to march, and in an unknown country, did not have time to reach the flank or rear of the enemy. Forty-five prisoners were captured in this affair, including 3 commissioned officers; the enemy also lost 1 man killed and 2 wounded. Colonel Prosser's loss was 1 man wounded. It appeared that Patterson's (so called) brigade, of Roddey's command, having crossed at Bainbridge, had come up the preceding evening to Pond Spring to re-enforce Roddey, and constituted, with the balance of Windes' regiment, the force in our front on this day.

Being now within half a day's march of Bainbridge, where I knew the whole of Forrest's cavalry had but just crossed the river, it was necessary to advance with more caution. We reached Leighton, however, thirteen miles west of Courtland, by 1 p.m. of the next day, Friday, December 30, having skirmished nearly all the way with flying parties of Roddey's cavalry, who attempted to delay us by burning a bridge over Town Creek, on the Bainbridge Road, and by some show of holding the ford of the same stream on the main Tuscumbia Road. Most of the latter force drifted in squads southward toward the mountains, the remainder, with General Roddey, taking the roads to Tuscumbia and Florence. Toward dark a new force appeared in our front on the Tuscumbia Road, believed to be Armstrong's brigade, which I afterward learned definitely had been sent back by Forrest from Barton Station to re-enforce Roddey and protect General Hood's trains. At Leighton I learned that Hood had commenced crossing the river at Bainbridge on Sunday morning and finished on Tuesday evening, marching at once toward Corinth; his railroad had never been in operation east of Cane Creek, three miles west of Tuscumbia. I also learned that the pontoon bridge had been taken up on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, and that the entire pontoon train of 200 wagons had passed through Leighton on Thursday and camped at La Grange the same night, and that it was bound for Columbus, Miss., with a comparatively small guard. Roddey's so-called division of cavalry had apparently been relied upon to prevent any advance of our forces until the train could get to a safe distance, but his men had become so demoralized by their successive defeats that we could afford to disregard him.

Having communicated with Major-General Steedman, who left me free to make the expedition or not, as I might deem best, I started from Leighton before daylight on Saturday morning, December 31, taking a trail which enabled us to avoid Armstrong's force and to get in the rear of a portion of Roddey's command at La Grange, where we captured Col. Jim Warren, of Tenth [Fifth] Alabama Cavalry, and some other prisoners. About 1 p.m. we passed through Russellville, where we encountered another portion of Roddey's force, which had just arrived from Tuscumbia, and drove it out on the Tuscaloosa road, while we kept on the Cotton-Gin or Bull Mountain road, after the train. Some attempt was made to delay us by burning a bridge over Cedar Creek, but we found a ford and caught up with the rear of the pontoon train at dark, ten miles beyond Russellville. We met no resistance, and our advance guard rode through to the front of the train, which extended for five miles, and consisted of seventy-eight pontoon-boats and about 200 wagons, with all the necessary accouterments and material, engineering instruments, &c.; all the mules and oxen, except what the pontoniers and teamsters were able to cut loose and ride off, were standing hitched to the wagons. Three boats had been set fire to, but so carelessly that no damage had been done. We captured a few prisoners, and went into camp at about the center of the train, fed our horses, and I then started the entire command out in either direction to burn the train, which was done in the most thorough manner, and occupied till 3 a.m. 1 should have been glad to bring the pontoon train—which was built at Atlanta last winter, and was an exceedingly well appointed one—back to our lines, but the condition of the mules, the mountainous character of the country, and the presence in our rear of a force of the enemy's cavalry estimated at three times our own strength, prevented. I had also learned from a negro servant of Captain Cobb, of the engineers, who commanded the train, that a large supply train of General Hood, bound from Barton Station to Tuscaloosa, was ahead.

Early next morning (Sunday) I pushed on through Nauvoo, taking the Aberdeen road, which I knew would flank the train. I led a detachment from near Bexar, across by a trail to head the train on the Cotton-Gin road, and sent another, under Lieutenant-Colonel Lamborn, to follow it, and by 10 p.m. had surprised it in camp a few miles over the State line in Itawamba County, Miss. It consisted of 110 wagons and over 500 mules. We burned the wagons, shot or sabered all the mules we could not lead off or use to mount prisoners, and started back. In one of the wagons was Colonel McCrosky, of Hood's infantry, who had been badly wounded at Franklin. I left a tent with him, some stores, and one of the prisoners to take care of him. About twenty of the teamsters were colored U.S. soldiers of the garrison captured by Hood at Dalton; these came back with us. We returned via Toll-gate and the old military and Hackleburg roads, capturing an ambulance with its guard on the way, to within twenty-five miles south of Russellville, when I found that Roddey's force and the so-called brigades of Biffle and Russell were already stationed in our front at Bear Creek, and on the Biler road, toward Moulton, to retard us, while Armstrong was reported as being in pursuit. The country was very difficult and rugged, with few roads or trails and scarcely any forage, but we evaded, by a night march of twenty-three miles, all the forces of the enemy except Colonel Russell, whom we attacked unexpectedly on the Moulton and Tuscaloosa road, twelve miles east of Thorn Hill, on Wednesday noon (Lieutenant-Colonel Prosser having the advance), routing him so speedily and completely that he did not delay our march twenty minutes, and this only to pick up prisoners and burn his five wagons, including his headquarters wagons, out of which we got all the brigade and other official papers. We had but a few hours previously captured, with its guard of three men, a small mail bound for Tuscaloosa. About fifty or seventy-five conscripts from both sides of the Tennessee River, that Russell was hustling off to Tuscaloosa, were released by our attack, also eight Indiana soldiers captured by Russell near Decatur. We then continued our march unmolested by way of Mount Hope toward Leighton, but, learning when within ten miles of that place that all our troops had returned to Decatur, we came on by easy marches to the same post, reaching it on Friday evening, 6th instant.

The whole distance marched from the time of leaving Decatur, nine days previously, was 265, and about 400 miles from the time of leaving Chattanooga, two weeks and three days previous.

My entire command numbered less than 600 men, consisting of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania (Anderson) Cavalry, commanded by Lieut. Col. Charles B. Lamborn, and detachments of the Second Tennessee and Tenth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, commanded by Lieut. Col. William F. Prosser. To these officers and all those under them, much credit is due for their gallantry and energy, as well as to all their men, for the dash and courage with which they attacked any enemy that appeared, and for the patient manner in which they bore, on the most scanty rations, the severe fatigue of this expedition. I desire particularly to recommend for honorable mention in general orders Sergt. Arthur P. Lyon, of Company A, of the Anderson Cavalry, for repeated acts of marked bravery during this short campaign, including the capture of two pieces of artillery, which fell into his hands on the night of December 28, six miles from Decatur, on the Courtland road, by a daring charge of our advance guard of fifteen inert, which he led on this occasion.

We took about 150 prisoners after leaving Leighton, including 2 colonels (one of whom was left in consequence of his wounds), 2 captains, and 6 lieutenants, and destroyed in all between 750 and 1,000 stand of arms, and captured a considerable number of pistols.

Our entire loss, 1 man killed and 2 wounded, all of Lieutenant-Colonel Prosser's command, in the charge on Russell's force.

The whole of Forrest's cavalry, except Armstrong's brigade, was at Okolona, Miss., within one day's march of us, when the supply train was captured. He had been sent there as soon as he crossed at Bainbridge, on Tuesday evening, to repel our cavalry from Memphis, who had destroyed the railroad for twenty miles near and above Okolona. I do not think General Hood brought across the Tennessee River at Bainbridge more than 12,000 infantry and thirty-five pieces of artillery.

I am very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. J. PALMER,        

Colonel, Commanding.

Maj. S. B. MOE,
        Assistant Adjutant-General, Hdqrs. District of the Etowah.

_______________

ADDENDA.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY,        

Huntsville, January 10, 1865.

Captain RAMSEY,
        Ass. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. Dept. of the Cumberland, Nashville:

CAPTAIN: As supplementary to my report of my operations in North Alabama, directed to be sent in by the major-general commanding, I inclose a copy of a letter from Major-General Steedman, which left me free to make the expedition after the enemy's pontoon train or not, as I might deem best.

I am, captain, your obedient servant,

WM. J. PALMER,        

Colonel, Commanding.

[Inclosure.]

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE ETOWAH,        

Courtland, Ala., December 30, 1864--5.15 p.m.

Col. WILLIAM J. PALMER,

        Commanding Cavalry:

COLONEL: Your dispatch just received. The infantry, if it should move now, could not reach Leighton before 2 a.m. to-morrow. You will, therefore, have to exercise your own judgment as to whether you can safely make the expedition without support from the infantry. It is fair to suppose that the pontoon train has a guard at least equal to your own force. The service of your command will be needed to scout in the direction of the river and Tuscumbia. I do not wish you to break down your horses, but leave you free to make the expedition, if you think you can do it with perfect safety. Send me a commissioned officer with twenty-five of your men for courier duty. Please inform me whether you pursue the train or not.

By command of Major-General Steedman:

S. B. MOE,        

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 641-5

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 227.—Reports of Col. William P. Lyon, Thirteenth Wisconsin Infantry, of operations December 19-21 and 31, 1864.

No. 227.

Reports of Col. William P. Lyon, Thirteenth Wisconsin Infantry,

of operations December 19-21 and 31, 1864.

HDQRS. MEMPHIS AND CHARLESTON R. R. DEFENSES,        

Huntsville, Ala., December 21, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to report to you that I left Stevenson on the afternoon of the 19th instant with one train and arrived at Woodville a little before dark. I found Colonel Prosser preparing to move to Brownsborough. He moved up the river about four miles that night, and attempted to cross at the most shallow ford on that stream, but the high water prevented him from doing so. He returned, and after several hours labor planking the railroad bridge we got his command across. The other trains arrived on the morning of 20th, and after leaving sixty infantry and a piece of artillery at the bridge, together with the dismounted and twenty mounted cavalry, we moved on to Brownsborough, arriving there at dark. The railroad and bridges are unharmed, but all of the block-houses were burned on the 19th. Colonel Prosser preceded us to Brownsborough, and at Maysville surprised and scattered from 100 to 200 rebels, killing 3 and capturing 7; several were drowned in attempting to swim Flint River. Hearing from a tolerably authentic source that there were 700 rebels, infantry and artillery, in Huntsville, besides their cavalry, I thought it prudent to send Colonel Prosser ahead to reconnoiter before putting my trains across Flint River. He moved in the night, arriving here at daybreak, and took quiet possession of Huntsville. There have been but a few troops here, and they left last evening. I arrived here with the trains soon after noon. I left 35 men at Hurricane Creek and 100 at Brownsborough. Captain Williams' command, which came here with Colonel Prosser, is ordered to the latter place to-morrow morning. I also left a piece of artillery there. When the trains left Larkinsville yesterday morning Captain Givens' command had not arrived there, and, of course, no artillery was left there; but I started a train back there this morning with the artillery and to complete the repairs to the telegraph line, which is broken in several places. I sent a guard of fifty men on this train. I learn here that the gun-boat fleet passed down the river last night, and I therefore do not send the detachment of the Seventy-third and One hundred and second Ohio Volunteer Infantry to Whitesburg. We get but little intelligence here of the movements or intentions of the enemy. A report, which I deem tolerably reliable, is, that orders were received here yesterday from General Hood to hold Huntsville at all hazards, and, further, that it was his intention to make Decatur his main position, with his right resting at this place. The intelligence of Hood's defeat did not reach here until yesterday.

The enemy did but little damage in this vicinity. They carried off Judge Humphreys a prisoner, and obtained some forty recruits. We arrived here too soon for their conscription. I await intelligence from Decatur with considerable anxiety.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. P. LYON,        

Colonel Thirteenth Wisconsin Veteran Vol. Infantry, Comdg.

Lieut. SAM. M. KNEELAND,
        Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

_______________

HDQRS. MEMPHIS AND CHARLESTON R. R. DEFENSES,        

Huntsville, Ala., January 3, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the capture and destruction of Paint Rock bridge, on the 31st ultimo, the facts not having been obtained by me until to-day:

When I left Stevenson on the 19th ultimo, under orders from the general commanding to reoccupy this place and the railroad, I received written orders to leave fifty infantry and verbal orders to leave one piece of artillery and twenty mounted cavalry at Paint Rock bridge. I reached there on the morning of the 20th ultimo, and left the piece of artillery, the twenty cavalry, and Company G of the Thirteenth Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry, fifty-six strong, the whole commanded by Second Lieut. Samuel C. Wagoner, Company G, Thirteenth Wisconsin. I also left a corporal and one man of Battery D, First Missouri Light Artillery, to drill a gun squad which I directed to be detailed from the infantry to work the piece. These, together with Captain Kennimer's company of home scouts, nominally about thirty strong, constituted the garrison of the place. I spent considerable time with Lieutenant Wagoner, and gave him full and explicit directions to place the gun upon an elevation northeast of the bridge, to encamp his command near it on the same elevation, to immediately fortify his position by throwing up a redoubt of logs, earth, and rock on the summit of the elevation, giving him specific directions to carry up the face toward the mountain, which approaches quite near the bridge at that point, sufficiently high to protect the gunners in case of attack from sharpshooters in the mountain, to put every team necessary, of which there were several at the place, and every available man, upon this work immediately, and press it to an early completion, and to picket thoroughly every approach to his camp, throwing out his cavalry as vedettes. I endeavored to impress upon his mind that he was liable to attack at any time, and that the utmost vigilance on his part was required to save him from disaster. About a week afterward I received a note from Lieutenant W[agoner] stating that he had information that there was a large force of rebels in the vicinity of Claysville, on both sides of the river, the substance of which I telegraphed to you, and the reply of the general commanding, which was immediately forwarded to the lieutenant, reiterated in the strongest language the instructions which I had already given him. I deeply regret the necessity which compels me to state that Lieutenant Wagoner entirely disregarded the most vital of the orders. He did not fortify his position, and he put out no picket, except one man on the bridge, and had no camp guard, except one sentinel at the gun, and, incredible as it seems, although he had notice from several sources on Friday evening that the enemy were within a few miles of him in force, he did not increase his pickets or take a single precaution to guard against surprise. The attack was made by the combined forces of Mead and Johnson, and that of Whitecotton from the other side of the river, amounting in all, as nearly as I can learn, to about 400 men, at 4 o'clock in the morning. The enemy came from the mountain east of the camp, and was first discovered by the sentinel at the gun. He fired, and gave the alarm, but before the camp could be aroused the whole force was in it, and the garrison overpowered and most of it captured. The lieutenant and 37 men of Company G and 1 artilleryman were captured. Nineteen of Company G, the other artilleryman, the cavalry, and the home scouts escaped; only a few of the latter were in camp, the balance being absent on a scout. The prisoners were taken to the river by Whitecotton's command at Claysville, and were, doubtless, sent to the other side. The balance of the attacking force went north. They burned and cut the bridge so that it fell into the river, and they left the gun unspiked, but mutilated the carriage.

I go there to-morrow, and will then be able to give an account of the loss of arms, camp and garrison equipage, &c.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. P. LYON,        

Colonel Thirteenth Wisconsin Veteran Vol. Infantry, Comdg.

Lieut. SAM. M. KNEELAND,
        Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 638-40

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 207 — Report of Capt. Major D. Williams, Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, of operations November 17, 1864.

No. 207

Report of Capt. Major D. Williams, Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, of operations November 17, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS POST, WHITESBURG,        

November 21, 1864.

GENERAL: In compliance with orders from Colonel Lyon, dated at Huntsville, November 15, 1864, I have the honor to make the following report:

Marched from this place on the 16th instant, with forty men of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry-eighteen from Company D, the remainder from my own company—to Huntsville, where I received a re-enforcement of two commissioned officers and forty men of the Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry. From thence we marched to Brownsborough, Ala., where we arrived at sunset, and were joined by thirty men of Company H of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, under command of Captain Da Huff, thirty men of the Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, under command of Captain Givens, and 250 men of the Fourth Michigan Infantry, under command of Colonel Hall. We remained at Brownsborough until 3 a.m. of the 17th, when, under command of Colonel Hall, we marched in the direction of New Market. When two miles out, and at the small town of Maysville, our advance met rebel pickets and drove them back. After marching six miles farther, and at about 7 a.m., we halted, breakfasted, and fed our horses, after which we started in pursuit of the enemy, meeting them, under command of Russell, Johnson, and Mead, supposed to be 500 strong, all mounted and in line of battle, which we soon broke, driving them from their ground in confusion, our men pursuing them. We followed them until night, driving them nine miles, they rallying five times, but were handsomely repulsed and driven back each time. Night coming on, and our horses and men being considerably fatigued, we ceased fighting in the vicinity of New Market, and encamped at that place for the night. The enemy is known to have lost 9 in killed and 3 wounded, while we lost not a man. On the morning of the 18th we countermarched to Brownsborough, and being unwell myself, by permission from Colonel Hall, I returned to Huntsville, leaving my command. At 3 a.m. of the following day the railroad track was torn up six miles east of Brownsborough, and the command sent in pursuit of the marauders, the result of which will be otherwise reported.

The conduct of Colonel Hall and all the remaining officers and men is worthy of commendation.

I am, general, with profound respect, your obedient servant,

MAJOR D. WILLIAMS,        

Capt. Company C, 12th Indiana Cav., Comdg. Cavalry Forces.

Brigadier-General GRANGER,
        Commanding District of Northern Alabama.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 612

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Saturday, May 31, 1862

 This morning we move from Farmington. In the afternoon we come to a halt near the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and go into camp. It seems that the enemy has left in great confusion. The amount of property destroyed is immense. In Van Dorn's camp, we find some rebel papers; from one we extract the following letter, written by one of the chivalry's fair beauties, which, though a little diverging from our subject, may perhaps prove interesting to the reader.

YANKEEVILLE, April 22d, 1862.

 

MY DEAR SISTER: As it may be a very long time before we again have an opportunity of writing to you, Ma has made us all promise to write you a long letter; so if a corpulent budget comes to hand (provided it is not kidnapped), you need not be surprised. You see by the dating of my letter that we have moved family, house servants and all into Yankeeville. We are only about one hundred miles farther from you than when we lived at Huntsville. The portion of the United States that we live in is decidedly one of the most out-of-the-way places I have ever seen. Although the cars seem to run regularly, there is never a breath of news to gladden our hearts. I declare I have not seen a newspaper for two weeks, and expect if I were to see one now, I should regard it as a supernatural appearance, and be frightened to death. The Rev. Mr.—— is here, and preached for us, and was not so partial to the President of the C. S. A., but what he could leave him out of his prayer when he saw it was necessary. He prayed the Lord to look down upon us in mercy as we then stood before Him, political enemies. The church was half filled with officers, brass buttons and black feathers, strange to say, looking as calm and collected after their exploits as a pan of butter-milk. I wish you could see them as they pass the gate; sometimes on horseback, forty or fifty of them together, with their long, murderous swords encased in brass, and dangling with terrific clamor against the horses' sides, which produces an effect so frightening that our faces are fear blanched with terror, and we instinctively pull our sun-bonnets over our faces and stop our ears with our fingers, that we may shut out as much as possible the humiliating noise. Do you not shudder when you think that we are in the hands of these ruffians. We expect every night that the town will be either shelled or burnt, and when I wake up in the morning I am surprised to find myself safe, and that the shells have not yet been hurled this way; then I say to myself in the most thankful and cheery way, “Good morning, dear, I'm glad to see you're all here.” I miss dear little Huntsville so much, and often think of the times we used to have swinging together on the porch every night. Here the streets are so guarded that one dare not go beyond the dwelling houses, and as to singing in concert, the town is too full of Yankeedoodles ever to attempt it. Oh! how I long to see our dear soldiers again. Although I have no near kindred in the army, each one of them is as dear to me as a brother. All our girls are proud and brave, and never lose faith. They give no quarters to the Yankees, and as one of them remarked, “He hadn't seen a woman smile since he had been here." But how can we smile and be gay in their presence, when our hearts are with Charley, over the water. If you see any of my soldier friends up your way, please tell them to come and escort us back. We cannot return without protection. There is a large party of girls here who come with me, and who will join us. Our political canoe has run aground, and the no-secession waves run so high that it is dangerous for a party of females to brave them without some trusty arm to guard the vessel's bow. I wish I could see you all. We ought not to be separated. Kiss my brother and take good care of him, for men are so precious these war times.

 

Your loving sister

E——

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 76-8